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TopNAA Record                                         October 2009
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Ralph Crosby of EADS and Under Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter Kick Off Luncheon Series
   NAA will kick off the Luncheon Speaker Series on October 29, 2009 with Ralph Crosby, President of EADS North America and continue on November 12, 2009 with Dr. Ashton Carter, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
   Both luncheons will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.  Luncheons will continue through June 2010. For more information on the Luncheon Series click here. To register to attend, click here.
   NAA thanks the many table sponsors of the Luncheon Series:  The Boeing Company, Cobham Corporate N.A., DRS Technologies, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and UTC/Pratt & Whitney, Aurora Flight Sciences and Curtiss-Wright Corporation.
Fall Awards Banquet to Honor Many People
  The NAA Annual Fall Awards Banquet will be held Monday, November 2, 2009 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. During the evening, NAA will present numerous awards to outstanding recipients, including the following:Mackay trophy
  • Mackay Trophy to the Crew of Bone 23 for the most meritorious flight by the U.S. Air Force in 2008 (photo of trophy shown here)
  • FAI International Diploma for Outstanding Airmanship to Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles
  • Brewer Trophy for aviation education to the University Aviation Association
  • Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award to Mr. George Carneal and Dr. Tom Connolly
  • FAI International Paul Tissandier Diploma to Patrick N. Moorehead
  • World and United States Aviation Record Setters
   For more information on the NAA Fall Awards Banquet and to register to attend click here.
C5-M Super Galaxy Claims 41 World
Records on One Flight

   A joint U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin flight crew flying a C-5M Super Galaxy strategic transport claimed 41 world records in one flight on September 13, 2009.
C5   The claimed records were set in the Class C-1.s, Group III for Altitude in Horizontal Flight, Altitude with Payload, Time-to-Climb, Time-to-Climb with Payload, and Greatest Payload. The aircraft carried a payload of more than 80,000 kg (the actual measured payload weight was 176,610 lb) to an altitude of more than 41,100 feet in 23 minutes, 59 seconds.
   Kris Maynard served as NAA Official Observer for the flight. The pending claims are being reviewed by Art Greenfield, NAA Director, Contest and Records and once approved as national records will then be forwarded to the F�d�ration A�ronautique Internationale (FAI) for certification as world records. Read more.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy to Receive
Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

   Steven F. Udvar-Hazy will receive the prestigious 2009 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for "innovative aerospace business practices, improved aircraft design, piloting skills, and seWright Bros Trophylfless philanthropy ensuring preservation of our aerospace history."
   Udvar-Hazy is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), the worldwide market leader in the leasing and remarketing of advanced technology commercial jet aircraft to airlines around the globe. A staunch advocate of aerospace education, Udvar-Hazy has supported the aviation and space community by making a multi-million dollar donation to the Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, to build what is today known as the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport.
   Udvar-Hazy will be presented with the award at the Wright Memorial Dinner on Friday, December 11, 2009, at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. For more information on the award, visit www.naa.aero. For more information on the Wright Memorial Dinner, visit www.aeroclub.org.
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President's Message

Two New, Very Important Corporate Members

    Within the past few weeks, the National Aeronautic Association welcomed into our corporate family the Cessna AircraftCH47F cockpit Company and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation.  These two opportunities constituted a significant milestone in our collective work to stabilize and carefully grow NAA, and a very important affirmation of our mission and our work.
   Of the approximate 7500 records that exist in the NAA Aviation Records Database, 1300 - over 17 percent -- carry the name Cessna, Beechcraft, or Hawker.  In addition, Cessna has received the award for "the Greatest Achievement in Aviation," -- the Collier Trophy-- twice, in both 1986 and 1997.  To have them both join us in support our work solidifies our long-standing relationships with both. 
   While the entire aviation and aerospace industry will be working through our current economic headwinds for many months to come, it is certainly encouraging to us that the unique capabilities and responsibilities of NAA continue to have value.  Cessna's and Hawker Beechcraft's support certainly demonstrate that.
Jonathan Gaffney
NAA President
Air Sport Organization News

Jumpers Claim New Head-Down Record
   USPA Group Member drop zone Skydive Chicago hosted the latest head-down world record attempt in Ottawa, Illinois. After several attempts in near-perfect weather, 108 very accomplished skydivers joined hands upside down to establish the new record. Artistic events judges Jami Pillasch and Sarah Thompson, led by USPA Board Member Scott Smith, declared that the international group - including jumpers from 16 countries - bested the record of 69 upside-down skydivers set two years ago, also at Skydive Chicago.

Beloved Father of Hang Gliding Dies
   Francis Rogallo, father of hang gliding and inventor of the flexible wing, passed away in early September 2009 near Kitty Hawk, North CarolinRogalloa. He was 97. Francis and his wife Gertrude Rogallo invented the flexible, or Rogallo, wing in 1948 that led to an array of flying machines and allowed millions of people around the world to experience the joy of unpowered flight. Their innovative designs are largely responsible for the development of the hang glider, paraglider, ultra lights (light sport aircraft), sport parachutes, delta kites, stunt kites, parafoil kites, sport parachutes, and kiteboarding kites.

Harrison Ford Completes Term asFord EAA Young Eagles Chairman
   EAA member, pilot, and famed actor Harrison Ford has stepped down as Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles Program after more than five years of service. The EAA Young Eagles Program, now in its 17th year, has provided inspirational and educational first-flight experiences to nearly 1.5 million youth, thanks to the volunteer efforts of 42,000 EAA member pilots and countless supporters around the globe. Ford's predecessor program chairs were Oscar-winning actor and avid pilot Cliff Robertson (1992-1993) and aviation legend Chuck Yeager (1994-2003).

Airport Users Rescue Airport
   Last year, Sky Manor Airport (N40) in Pittstown, New Jersey, "The best little airport in the east," was in serious financial trouble and foreclosure on the 70-year old airport was looming. So pilots, including members of EAA Chapter 643, decided to do something about it. All the pilots based there got together and used the sale of their hangers as capital to buy the airport. On a beautiful Saturday in September, the chapter held its 4th annual fly-in at Sky Manor, celebrating the rebirth of its airport.

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Aero Club News

ACONE Enjoys Annual Fly-In
    The Aero Club of New England (ACONE) Annual Katama Fly-in was held on July 11, 2009 on the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard, MA. About 25 ACONE members and guests gathered at tables on the outside deck of the Right Fork D
ACONEiner, talking about planes and flying destinations and catching up on personal news.
   Reese Dill is shown in the photo at Katama with his North American T-6. Katama Airfield (1B2) is the largest grass airport in the United States with three runways; the longest bein
g 4,000 feet. At any given time, Katama Airfield has an eclectic collection of antique, warbird, and unusual aircraft parked on its turf.
   The next ACONE event is planned for October 9-10, 2009 in Rockville, ME at the Samoset Golf Resort. Rockville is also the home of the Owl's Head Transportation Museum. For more information, visit
www.acone.org.

Bill Schoneberger Dies at 83
   William A. (Bill) Schoneberger, former president of the Aero Club of SoutherSchoneberger
n California, vice president of NAA, and a nationally known
author and
aviation historian, died at 83 after a lengthy illness. He was head of public relations and advertising for General Electric's jet engine division in his native Ohio for 17 years and later served as director of communications for Northrop (now Northrop Grumman) Corp. in Los Angeles, CA.
   He was the author or co-author of nine books on aviation history and was frequently quoted in news articles and on television documentaries related to aviation. In the 1980s Schoneberger was instrumental in preserving the huge Hughes Flying Boat - nicknamed the "Spruce Goose" - for public display by the Aero Club and later by the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in Oregon.
http://www.sprucegoose.org/

Atlanta Aero Club Visits Flight Simulator
  
The Atlanta Aero Club held its annual trip to the FlightSafety International Simulator training center, attracting 50 attendees who flew the latest technology simulators during the 7th annual Open House hosted by FSI managers Ed Klonosji and Chris Frye. This is one of the most popular events for members, who "flew" several different aircraft models and got a real feel for the aircraft and the FSI training system.
    Official Historian and former fight pilot Robert "Punchy" Powell was a guest at the club's September luncheon.  Powell flew 83 combat missions over two tours in World War II against the Germans in the 352nd Fight Squadron. Credited with 3.5 kills, Punchy says there was likely 20 more that could not be verified. As historian of the 352nd Group, Powell has written two sought-after books describing the encounters of his missions and his squadron mates.

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Also In This Issue
Fall Awards Banquet
C5-M Claims 41 Records
Wright Trophy Recipient
President's Message
Ais Sport Organization News
Aero Club News
NAA Annual Meeting
Call for Nominations
Records Claimed
Air Sports Link
NAA Credit Card


This month's featured member organizations:

Northrop Grumman
Signature Flight

SpaceX

NATA

NASAO

Annual NAA Membership Meeting and Election of Board of Directors
   NAA hereby notifies all current NAA members that the annual meeting of the membership will be held Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at NAA Headquarters at Reagan National Airport, Hangar 7, Washington, DC 20001. All members are invited to attend. Please notify NAA of your attendance by November 30, 2009 by email to [email protected].
Call for Nominations:
NAA is accepting nominations for the following two awards through November 30, 2009.  Anyone may submit nominations.

The Cliff Henderson Award for Achievement is
given to a living individual or group whose vision, leadership, or skill, has made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation or space activity. Previous winners of the trophy include Jimmy Doolittle, Roscoe Turner, Spann Watson, the US Air Force Academy and Martha King. For more information on the award and nomination guidelines click here.

The Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award recognizes a living woman for an outstanding and enduring contribution, a meritorious flight, or a singular technical development in the field of aviation, aeronautics, space, or related sciences. Click here for nomination guidelines.
Records Claimed
August 1 - 31  2009
AEROPLANES

Speed Over a Commercial Airline Route:

Philadelphia, PA to Stockholm, Sweden:  546 mph
Travis S. Major
Class C-1
US Airways Boeing 757-200
2 Rolls-Royce RB211
08/14/09

Sydney, Australia to Singapore: 
497 mph

C. Thad  Kelly
Class C-1
United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11
3 Pratt & Whitney PW4460
08/14/09

Stockholm, Sweden to Philadelphia, PA:  462 mph
Travis S. Major
Class C-1
US Airways Boeing 757-200
2 Rolls-Royce RB211
08/15/09

Louisville, KY to Hong Kong:  515 mph
Douglas W. Menish
Class C-1
United Parcel Service Boeing 747-400
08/24/09

Speed Over a Recognized Course:

St. Louis, MO to Madison, WI:  166.04 mph
Morry S. Cole
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Beech Bonanza A36
1 Continental IO-520
08/05/09

Johannesburg, South Africa to London, UK:  508 mph
Joseph N. Griffin & Thomas N. Lovingood
Class C-1.l, Group III (Jet)
Gulfstream G550
2 BMW Rolls-Royce BR710
08/29/09

GLIDERS

Three Turnpoint Distance:  269 mi
Valeria F. Paget
Class DW, WorldClass, Feminine
PW-5
Waller, TX
08/08/09

This Month's

Air Sport Link

SSA

NAA Credit Card